‘The Stand’ Loses ‘Crazy Heart’ Director Scott Cooper

Stephen King may be among the most recognizable authors of the past few decades, but that doesn’t mean that film projects based on his works have it any easier. For example, Ron Howard’s take on King’s The Dark Tower series has languished in development hell for years, despite Howard’s insistence that the project has never faded away completely.

Now it appears that the big-screen adaptation of King’s 1978 post-apocalyptic thriller The Stand is facing similar difficulties on its way to the big screen. Director David Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves – the duo behind the last four Harry Potter films – was previously onboard the project, as was Academy Award-winning filmmaker (and future Batman) Ben Affleck. As it turns out, we can add another director to that list.

According to The Wrap, Scott Cooper – who directed Jeff Bridges to an Oscar win for Crazy Heart – is the latest filmmaker to drop out of The Stand. Warner Bros. brought Cooper on a few months ago to re-write the initial draft of the script by David Kajganich as well as direct the film, but “creative differences” reportedly brought development to a standstill. There’s no word yet on who the studio might get to take the reins of the project.

Cooper’s exit isn’t too surprising, considering that The Stand has a reputation as one of King’s more complex works. After all, both Affleck and King himself have acknowledged that adapting the 800+ page novel – which was previously brought to life as a 1994 television miniseries – is no easy task. Cooper’s career also appears to be on the rise, with his film Out of the Furnace hitting theaters next month.

Still, one would think that the success of this year’s Carrie remake – which has thus far earned $53 million worldwide against a $30 million production budget – would help expedite the development process for projects based on King works. In addition to The Stand, a Pet Sematary remake and a two-film It adaptation are on the way. The Screen Rant editorial team recently speculated on what other King remakes might be on the way, and at the moment, there’s every chance that a few more might hit theaters before The Stand.

Are you looking forward to The Stand, or are you more excited about another King adaptation? Who should Warner Bros. get to replace Cooper? Let us know in the comments.

Stay tuned to Screen Rant for the latest on The Stand as this story develops.